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Academic Technology and Support Services

Online Faculty Development

Academic Technology and Support Services provide a variety of professional learning opportunities through asynchronous, synchronous, workshops, and personalized department trainings from all four of our areas. Our entire catalog is shared below; however, each semester, you can access our current offerings through Go Sign Me Up.

In addition to individualized courses, we also offer several opportunities for faculty and staff to earn digital credentials.

To request personalized training for your area, contact Instructional Design Manager Katie Surber at [email protected].

Accessible course materials

Course
Description
ACS-101: Introduction to Accessibility
This self-paced, online course provides a basic overview of accessibility guidelines that will help you gain an understanding of how to make your course content accessible to all learners. It includes core accessibility concepts, as well as instruction on how to create accessible documents, accessible presentations, accessible multimedia and accessible Blackboard content. Resources to facilitate the creation of accessible course content are provided.
ACS-110: Accessible Word Documents
This online workshop provides an overview of creating accessible documents through hands-on application of accessibility principles. Participants will learn how to create accessible text and structure, incorporate accessible images, tables and hyperlinks and run a final accessibility check. The accessible document will then be saved as an accessible PDF file.
ACS-120: Accessible PowerPoint
In this online workshop, participants will learn how to create an accessible PowerPoint presentation and update the accessibility of an existing presentation. Topics include elements of an accessible PowerPoint, common accessibility problems, accessible structure and design features, accessible images and non-text elements, accessible multimedia and saving/sharing presentations.
ACS-131: Accessible Video Captioning
This hands-on course (offered both in person and online) will introduce participants to captioning YouTube videos, both their own and those created by others. The purpose is to introduce the concept of captioning, apply it using two online tools and utilize transcripts. This knowledge will be assessed throughout the course via discussion boards, quizzes and a final project.
ACS-135: Accessible Image Descriptions
This one-week, online course is designed to introduce you to the Poet image description guidelines resource, aiding you in providing more effective and accessible descriptions for your image content. During this course, you will be introduced to a web-based image description resource called Poet, learn significant factors that impact how description for images is provided and how to more effectively and efficiently provide image descriptions.
ACS-140: Accessible Excel Worksheets
This workshop (offered in person and online) will teach participants how to create accessible Excel worksheets using Microsoft Excel 2016. Participants will learn how to properly format and structure Excel worksheets to meet ADA compliance and to be screen-reader accessible.
ACS-150: Complex Image Descriptions
This one-hour webinar is for instructors who would like to add complex images to their lessons but need guidance on making the images accessible. The webinar will cover strategies for creating alt text and long image descriptions for graphs, diagrams and other complex images. The basics of alt text and descriptions will be reviewed, but successful completion of ACS-135: Accessible Image Descriptions is recommended.
ACS-211: When and How to Use PDFs: Ensuring Accessibility
In this webinar, you will learn to determine when a PDF is appropriate and how to ensure accessibility for all users. You will master essential techniques for structuring PDF content with headings, lists and tables to enhance readability and usability. Additionally, alternatives to PDFs will be explored, providing you with practical options for various document needs.

AI in education

Course
Description
BBD-128U: Unlocking the Power of BB Ultra's AI Design Assistant
Discover the transformative potential of Blackboard Ultra's AI Design Assistant in this webinar. Explore its features and capabilities, uncovering how it can assist in your course design. Dive into live demonstrations and practical examples to witness the AI Design Assistant in action firsthand. Gain insights and best practices for optimizing its effectiveness in your course design process. Join us to unlock the power of AI in Blackboard!
BBD-135U: Supporting and Engaging Students with AI Conversations in Ultra
Join us for a one-hour webinar on the AI Conversations tool in Blackboard Ultra. This session will provide participants with both instructions for setting up an assignment or learning activity with AI Conversations in a Blackboard course and an opportunity to examine different use cases for this tool across subject areas.
RC-101: Read, Listen and Chat with eLSID
eLSID's instructional designers are excited to offer this series to all Wake Tech faculty and staff who are interested in reading, or listening to podcasts, about current and predicted future trends in higher education. Each semester, a new book or educational podcast will be chosen as the material for the group. We will then meet three times throughout the semester to discuss the materials. Join us in reading, talking, debating and exploring adult learning theories, design theories and just general good reads in the field of education.
TLS-306: Using Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom
This is the first course in the micro-credential: Teaching with AI. In this course, participants are introduced to artificial intelligence in education. This introduction will include a summary of the state of AI in education, a review of Wake Tech's academic and artificial intelligence policies, suggestions on how AI can be used in the classroom and a brief tutorial on using Microsoft Copilot. Those interested in continuing in the Teaching with AI pathway will also be given suggestions on webinars to attend to learn more about the topics discussed in this professional learning.
TLS-309: Enhancing Instructor Productivity with AI
Join our upcoming webinar as we explore ways that AI can streamline your workload. Discover how AI can assist you in creating assignments, developing projects, designing rubrics and more. We'll provide practical tips and strategies for crafting effective AI prompts that get results.
TLS-323: Artificial Intelligence and Prompt Engineering
Generative artificial intelligence has been a part of the world of education for a short amount of time, but it has already impacted how we plan, design and create content for our students. This webinar will review the process of prompt engineering to maximize information retrieval and will explore how to develop content that is relevant to course alignment and lesson creation.
TLS-331: Practical Strategies for Designing, Revising and Grading Writing Assignments in the Age of AI
In this course, faculty will explore practical strategies for designing, revising and grading assignments with AI awareness. Participants will learn how to create or adapt assessments that encourage authentic student work and reduce overreliance on AI. The course also covers grading practices that address AI use and offers guidance on how to respond when inappropriate AI usage is suspected. Through real-world examples and collaborative discussions, instructors will leave with a toolkit of adaptable techniques to enhance student engagement and maintain academic integrity in the age of AI.
TLS-408: Four Approaches to Assignment Design in the Age of AI
With generative AI models now widely available that can write essays and generate answers to reading questions and problem sets in a matter of seconds, many educators are understandably anxious about what this means for traditional assessment methods. This webinar will provide participants with four approaches to assignment design in this new era, analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of each and exploring how to balance the integration of this new technology while still effectively assessing learning.
TLS-409: Using AI in a Student-Centered Classroom
AI can be an engaging resource for students. Rather than hoping students do not use AI, we discuss ways to make AI a teaching strategy to use in a student-centered classroom. In this webinar, we will explore how AI can support personalized learning strategies and foster student engagement.
TLS-410:Using AI in Adaptive Learning Techniques
This webinar will explore practical strategies for incorporating AI to create personalized, student-centered learning experiences. Learn how to seamlessly integrate AI into your online courses to foster adaptive learning, boost student engagement and drive improved learning outcomes.
TLS-411: Ethical Considerations with AI
When using AI in the classroom, it is important that we also teach our students how to use AI ethically. In this webinar, we will explore key issues such as academic integrity, privacy, equity, bias and responsible use. This session will include practical suggestions for navigating these challenges and provide insight on how instructors can best align AI with their classroom values and policies.
TLS-416: AI Tools at Wake Tech
Are you looking to learn more about the AI tools supported by Wake Tech? Are you wanting to learn the steps to get started using Wake Tech's AI tools? This webinar will offer an overview of the current tools we support. First, you'll learn how to use Microsoft Copilot, which is similar to ChatGPT, for basic inquiries and chatbot research. Then, you'll see what Blackboard AI tools like Design Assistant and Conversation can do for instructors and students. Finally, you'll explore apps that use Adobe Firefly to generate images and graphics for educational and informational purposes.
TLS-417: Creating AI-Powered Study Aids for Students
Discover how to harness generative AI tools to create personalized, engaging study aids that support student learning. In this webinar, you'll learn to generate flashcards, summaries and quizzes tailored to your course content using practical prompt strategies. Walk away with ready-to-use examples and ethical guidance to help your students study smarter with AI.
TLS-418: AI Faculty Learning Community
This small-group "Give One, Get One" session offers educators an interactive space to exchange ideas on using AI in the classroom. Each participant will present a brief success, challenge or possibility related to AI in their teaching, then receive feedback, suggestions and support from peers. Sessions are held at 1 p.m. on September 24, October 22 and November 19 via Microsoft Teams. Monthly insights also will be shared on the eLSID Faculty Support Team – AI Channel.
TLS-420: AI Capstone- Sharing your AI in the Classroom
This capstone course is the final webinar for participants who have completed the AI in Education pathway. In this final webinar, each attendee will be asked to share one AI strategy that they implemented from the series. The goal of this demonstration is to share with others from the program how AI was used in a variety of educational courses and what challenges were faced.
TLS-422: Teaching your Students AI Literacy
AI tools are becoming part of students' everyday lives. But are they using them thoughtfully and ethically? This webinar will help faculty learn how to talk with students about artificial intelligence in meaningful, classroom-relevant ways. We'll explore how to introduce AI in course conversations, model appropriate use and guide students in understanding when AI can support learning, and when it can hinder it. You'll also learn how to address common misconceptions, highlight AI's limitations and biases and set clear expectations around academic integrity. At the end of the session, you will leave with practical language, examples and strategies to build your students' critical AI literacy across disciplines.
TLS-423: Introducing your Students to AI Prompts
Discover how to empower your students with the foundational skill of crafting effective AI prompts. This webinar introduces practical strategies for integrating prompt-based learning into your classroom, helping students engage critically and creatively with AI tools. Perfect for faculty looking to enhance digital literacy and foster responsible AI use across disciplines.

Blackboard skills

Course
Description
BBD-010: What's New in Blackboard?
This informational workshop (offered in person and online) provides an overview of the new features and enhancements in the most recent Blackboard update. Additional information and resources about the Blackboard update are provided in the eLearning Resource Center within the "Issues" and "Updates" area. This workshop will be provided based on the annual Blackboard upgrade schedule. Visit the professional development registration system for a list of topics covered.
BBD-121U: Blackboard Basics: Ultra Course View
This course provides faculty with the necessary information to develop the Blackboard skills required to efficiently facilitate online courses. The information will allow instructors to reflect on a wide, but vital, range of topics essential to teaching online effectively, from how to thoughtfully structure course materials to how to properly create assessments and navigate Blackboard's Gradebook.
BBD-122U: Original to Ultra: What's the Difference?
The course goes over some of the main features of Ultra, including the course navigation, how to add content and how to access different tools within Ultra. Participants also will consider some of the differences between Blackboard Original and Ultra and discuss things they can do to prepare courses to make migration to Blackboard Ultra easier.
BBD-123U: Communicating in Blackboard Ultra: What's New, Exciting and Different
Are you ready for the Blackboard transition to Ultra Course View? This one-hour webinar provides an overview of the Ultra communication tools, including new features, enhancements and differences between the Original and Ultra platforms. The session will be helpful for anyone who is new to Blackboard Ultra or just wants to improve their knowledge and familiarity with the environment to efficiently communicate with their students.
BBD-124U: Context Menus, Icons and Behaviors: Understanding the Visual Language of the Ultra Interface
The Blackboard Ultra Course View offers a visually driven navigation interface that is different from the Original Course View. Although the new icons, menus and workflows may seem scary at first, they provide consistency and efficiency within the platform. This one-hour webinar discusses the design philosophy of Ultra and highlights new features, such as persistent menus and tabs, multiple view options, context-driven menus and new icons and symbols. The workshop is helpful for those curious or apprehensive about the migration to Ultra, as it provides guidance on how to navigate and perform basic tasks in the new environment.
BBD-125U: Building Structure in Blackboard Ultra
Unlock the secrets to creating a dynamic and well-organized online learning experience in Blackboard Ultra. The course highlights the modular approach to Ultra and showcase ways to move from the hierarchical structure in Original to a more streamlined student experience.
BBD-126U: Assessments and Grading in Blackboard Ultra
Learn the key features and strategies for effective evaluation in the online learning environment. The course covers the assignment and test tools and highlights features in the Gradebook to help you sharpen your assessment and grading skills in Blackboard Ultra.
BBD-127U: Navigating the Content Market in Blackboard Ultra
Explore strategies for instructors to effectively leverage the Content Market within Blackboard Ultra. This session will share insights into discovering, curating and implementing high-quality educational content, fostering a more engaging and dynamic online learning environment. Participants will gain practical tips on incorporating tools such as YuJa, SoftChalk, H5P and your textbook publishers to streamline content delivery, ultimately optimizing the learning experience for both you and your students.
BBD-131U: Beyond the Roll Call: Attendance Tracking and Scheduling in Blackboard
Are you looking for an efficient way to record and track class attendance? In this session, we'll explore why attendance tracking is helpful for faculty and students, and we will look at how you can plan your schedule and attendance tracking using the Blackboard Attendance tool. Participants will learn tracking attendance in Blackboard, how to set up an attendance module and manage attendance options and settings, record attendance and export attendance data. We will also take a look at attendance from the student perspective and discuss how attendance tracking can benefit students.
BBD-132U: Mastering Documents in Blackboard Ultra
This session will guide you through the ins and outs of document creation and design, from uploading and organizing content to leveraging tools for enhanced student engagement. We'll explore best practices for creating and designing documents, discuss strategies for maximizing accessibility and demonstrate how to integrate multimedia elements and self-checks to enhance your course content.
BBD-133: Detecting Plagiarism with Blackboard SafeAssign
This one-hour, seated workshop provides an overview of Blackboard's plagiarism detection service, called SafeAssign, which is fully integrated with Blackboard Assignments. Participants will learn how to utilize SafeAssign to detect student plagiarism and educate students about proper citation and attribution.
BBD-134: Using Groups in Blackboard
This two-week online workshop is an advanced Blackboard training course. Participants must have a good working knowledge of the Blackboard Grade Center, Discussion Board, using the Assignment feature and organizing content. This course provides a hands-on introduction to the Groups tool and some of the communication and collaboration tools used to promote interaction among students.
BBD-136U: Course Content Mastery
This intermediate-level session will provide practical strategies and demonstrations to help instructors create interactive and impactful learning experiences in Blackboard Ultra. Participants will explore how to leverage the inherent structural advantages of Blackboard Ultra to enhance every segment of the learning cycle. Using a variety of learning tools and engagement strategies, attendees will learn to design dynamic and effective course content.
BBD-141: Blackboard Ally Training
This workshop (offered in person and online) provides an overview of Blackboard Ally. This tool is fully integrated into Blackboard and assists faculty in evaluating their course content for electronic accessibility. The tool also creates alternative formats for content that benefit students with varying learning needs. Participants will learn how to use Ally to assess and fix accessibility issues with their content and will also learn about the benefits the alternative formats provide to students.
BBD-142: Accessibility in Blackboard Ultra
Blackboard Ally is an accessibility tool integrated within Blackboard Ultra. This webinar will highlight tips and tools for harnessing the power of Blackboard Ally to create accessible content. The workshop is helpful for instructors who would like to generate accessibility course reports, learn how to remediate inaccessible materials or gain knowledge about the benefits of creating content in multiple formats.

Culturally relevant pedagogy

Course
Description
TLS-301: What is Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
This course provides the necessary background on Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and defines equality, diversity and inclusion in education.
TLS-302: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in Student Learning and Academic Success
This second course in a five-part series focuses on the first tenet of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: achieving academic success through high expectations. In this session, participants will learn how planning for equity in the classroom can lead to greater student success. Techniques to tend to students' academic needs will be shared and course planning for using Culturally Relevant Teaching will begin.
TLS-303: Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to Develop Cultural Competence in Course Planning
This third course in a five-course series focuses on the second tenet of culturally relevant pedagogy: developing cultural competence through course design. In this session, strategies are shared to help integrate students' cultures, identities, and beliefs in course materials and online curriculum design. Faculty will be asked to continue to work in one of their courses to develop a plan to implement culturally relevant pedagogy in their course.
TLS-304: Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to Develop Social Consciousness in Course Materials
This fourth course in a five-course series focuses on the third tenet of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: social consciousness. In this session, the importance of making socially aware and impactful curriculum will be discussed. Faculty will continue to work with their previous course planning to build on their plan to implement Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in their course.
TLS-305: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Capstone Course
In the Capstone Course of the Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Certificate series, participants will implement the strategies they have planned during the courses. With an instructional designer, participants will show in one of their curriculum courses how they have practiced Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. At the conclusion of the implementation, a certificate will be given.

EPIC

Course
Description
EPIC-100: Best Practices in Online Teaching
In this eight-week online course, participants will learn about Wake Tech's eLearning Preparedness Initiative across the College (EPIC) and how it will help in effective and efficient course design. Participants will gain and apply knowledge and skills in Universal Design for Learning, accessible course design and best practices in course navigation, communication and collaboration, and online assessments. Participants will demonstrate these skills through the design and creation of an online course. The evaluation of the course will be used to measure success.
EPIC30: Online Teaching Certification Course

This course is a comprehensive certification satisfying all EPIC30 courses, including Blackboard skills, Universal Design for Learning, accessibility and best practices. For this 10-week module, faculty must follow a weekly schedule, and there are specific deadlines that must be adhered to. Faculty will be required to submit work during designated times so they can receive feedback in a timely manner for material that builds towards a final project.
This course can be taken instead of the following series:

  • BBD-121
  • ACS-101
  • EPIC-100
EPIC-107: Accessibility: Why It Matters and How to Plan for It
This course provides an overview of the laws associated with digital content and the standards that support achieving compliance with accessibility requirements. Participants will learn how to interpret the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and cross-reference associated success criteria to remediate digital content elements. Topics will include an overview of core accessibility concepts, developing an accessibility plan and identifying resources to support the development of accessible digital content.
EPIC-108: Teaching with Technology
In this two-week, online course, participants will learn instructional strategies for the effective use of educational technology to create and enhance instructional materials and activities. In addition to researching new technologies and exploring how to ensure technology is furthering student learning, participants will learn how to smoothly guide students in engaging new technologies to improve the learning experience.
EPIC-109: Evaluating Your Course Design
This course will provide an in-depth review of the current EPIC Quality eLearning Standards. Participants will use the standards to evaluate their course and create an action plan to align their course design to meet them. EPIC certification is a prerequisite to this course.
EPIC-110: EPIC Exemplary Course Capstone
If you’re an EPIC Online Teaching–certified faculty member (with your supervisor’s recommendation), you can enroll in EPIC 110 and work with an Instructional Designer throughout the semester to set goals and build a stronger online course. Together, you’ll give one of your online courses a refresh to bring it up to exemplary status. You’ll also join a small faculty cohort where you can swap ideas, share updates, and learn from each other along the way.

In EPIC 110, the faculty member will focus on four areas in their course: improving instructor presence, improving student-to-student engagement, improving content engagement, and increasing equity. The instructional designer will help you choose four goals that align with these areas and will work with you during the semester to fulfill these goals.

HyFlex teaching and learning

Course
Description
HYFLEX-101: Technology, Tips and Best Practices
This course is intended for those who are new to the HyFlex environment; it is designed to be a short course that introduces participants to this relatively new style of teaching. Participants will examine two different types of HyFlex lesson plans. Participants will also learn about basic tips and strategies for creating and facilitating a HyFlex course.

Office 365

Course
Description
STP-101: SharePoint Puzzle Party: Piecing Together Collaboration

Join us for a demonstration session where we explore the dynamic duo of SharePoint and Microsoft Teams. Whether you’re a seasoned user or a beginner, this training will cover essential topics to enhance your productivity:

  1. Choosing Your Entry Point: Teams vs. SharePoint
    – Understand when to access files through Teams or directly via SharePoint
    – Explore web, desktop and mobile app options for seamless collaboration
  2. Mastering Division and Department Teams
    – Dive into division and department Teams and channels
    – Learn about channel types (Standard, Private and Shared) and their use cases
  3. SharePoint vs. OneDrive: Best Practices
    – Discover scenarios where OneDrive shines and when SharePoint is the better choice
  4. Effective File Management in Teams
    – Uncover the power of Teams sites for smaller groups
    – Demystify document libraries vs. folders
    – Navigate libraries and folders beyond the team context
  5. Saving Files from Desktop Apps to SharePoint
    – Master saving files from Microsoft and Adobe apps
    – Tackle special cases like Camtasia projects and Access databases
    – Attach SharePoint files to emails seamlessly
  6. Support and Troubleshooting
    – Know whom to contact for assistance (EA Ticket or Helpdesk)
    – Learn how to handle common issues
  7. Q&A Session
    – Bring your questions, challenges and success stories

Open education resources

Course
Description
OER-101: A Guide to Open Educational Resources
In this introductory course, participants will develop foundational knowledge about Open Educational Resources (OER), including a definition of and the history of OER, OER usage and licensing information, and how to access OER using OpenNCCC. This course is a prerequisite course for the 200-level credential series in OER Course Design.
OER-201: Selecting OER Materials and Getting Started
Participants will begin the implementation process of their OER development by using the notion of Backwards Design for needs assessments, identifying relevant OER for course development, evaluating OER quality with established rubrics and considering academic articles and eBooks as supplemental resources to existing OER.
OER-202: Remixing, Accessibility and Usability
Participants will learn the essential foundations of remix culture and how to apply them to OER development. Participants will also learn how to evaluate resources for remix potential, access Creative Commons licenses for remixing and attribution and upload and share remixes to the OpenNCCC resource hub.

Student-centered learning

Course
Description
TLS-327: Humanizing Online Teaching
This course explores the principles of a humanistic approach to online education, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive learning environment. Participants will learn how to design online courses that prioritize student-centered language and strategies to promote a sense of belonging among learners. This course is part of a pathway series: Student-Centered Online Course Design and can be taken individually or as part of that series.
TLS-328: Student-Centered Online Course Design
This course will provide instructors with the tools for promoting a culture of self-directed learning by guiding students through a process of intrinsic motivation, allowing them to explore their own learning development while also establishing a sense of agency. Participants will also explore student-centered learning strategies for Blackboard Ultra and will employ various technologies to bolster scaffolding methodology and learner retention. This course is part of a pathway series: Student-Centered Online Course Design and can be taken individually or as part of the series.
TLS-329: Transparency and Alignment in Student-Centered Learning
In this professional development, participants learn concrete strategies to enhance both alignment and transparency in their courses and explore how these strategies benefit students. The course will specifically explore backward design, transparent assignment design and transparent grading approaches. This course is part of the Pathway Series: Student-Centered Online Course Design and can be taken individually or part of that series.
TLS-330: Importance of Feedback and Reflection
The Importance of Feedback and Reflection emphasizes the significance of providing immediate feedback and fostering reflection in the learning process. It explores various feedback strategies, the use of formative assessments, checklists, rubrics and reflective assignments to enhance student learning and engagement. This course is part of the Pathway Series: Student-Centered Online Course Design and can be taken individually or as part of that series.

Synchronous training

Course
Description
TEC-110: Getting Started with Microsoft Teams
In this introductory session, we’ll walk through the basics of Microsoft Teams so you can feel confident running your first live class. You'll learn how to navigate a Teams meeting, use essential tools like screen sharing, chat and reactions, and explore the core functions of a Team space. Whether you're teaching online or just want to better manage virtual meetings, this session will give you a solid foundation to build from.
TEC-115: Engaging Your Students With MS Teams
In this course, participants will build on their knowledge of Microsoft Teams by learning strategies to increase student engagement through Teams. The lessons are separated into three main topics: increasing instructor presence, increasing student-to-student engagement and making course content interactive. As part of this training, participants will work in both Blackboard and a Teams classroom.
TLS-105: Planning and Facilitating Synchronous Sessions
This course focuses on providing faculty and staff with the skills to begin including synchronous sessions into their online courses. Participants will review how to plan for a synchronous session, share activities that they want to try in a session and experiment with Microsoft Teams to learn how to hold an engaging synchronous session.
TLS-106: Effective Synchronous Presentation Skills
Do you finish giving a live lesson and wonder if the students actually "got it"? This course covers strategies to meet the technical, physical and pedagogical challenges that are unique to live-video learning environments. We will touch on developing slides in PowerPoint that work better on a shared virtual screen, how to set up your machine (and yourself) for optimal lesson-casting and some approaches to make sure students start your session engaged and stay engaged throughout.
TLS-108: Synchronous Success: Exploring Modalities
In this webinar, we'll dive into the unique possibilities of synchronous teaching using Microsoft Teams and Blackboard Ultra. From fully online sessions to tech-supported hybrid formats, you'll explore practical ways to foster connection, increase engagement and adapt your facilitation style across modalities. Participants will leave with actionable tips and tools to make your live sessions more dynamic, inclusive, and effective – no matter where your students are.
TLS-413: The Elephant and the Rider: Maintaining Your Students' Attention
Learners in today's world often face 24-hour-a-day distractions. It can be a challenge to maintain our students' attention even for a matter of moments. This webinar explores the allegorical theory of the elephant and the rider, delving into creative options for activating both our students' emotional and rational responses to information.
TLS-430: Facilitating Your Synchronous Sessions
This webinar helps faculty design well-organized, engaging synchronous sessions. We'll cover how to plan for a smooth flow, set clear expectations and create space for student voices. You'll learn techniques for encouraging peer interaction, building classroom community and using your time with students in intentional, student-centered ways.
TLS-432: Active Learning Synchronous Sessions
This interactive workshop explores practical strategies for incorporating active learning into live, synchronous class sessions. Faculty will experience and evaluate a variety of techniques designed to boost student engagement, collaboration and critical thinking in real time.

Teaching and learning strategies

Course
Description
ID-101: Work with an Instructional Designer
Whether you know what you want to build in your online course or are just looking for a course review for advice, the instructional design team can help. We offer support in instructional content development, assessment development, course redesign and new course design. Once you enroll in this course, the instructional design staff will reach out to you to gather more information on your needs and to set a timeline that works for you.
TLS-107: Information Overload in the LMS
Information overload has always been a challenge for learners, but it becomes even more challenging during an era when everyone's content-hungry brains are feasting on simultaneous stimuli. This webinar will cover five easy steps for addressing cognitive load theory and combating information overload within your learning management system.
TLS-125: Using H5P to Engage Students
H5P empowers everyone to create rich and interactive web experiences more efficiently. Integrated into Blackboard, this unique tool is web- and mobile-friendly and aims to make it easy for everyone to create and share content to engage students. Create content such as interactive videos, interactive presentations, quizzes, timelines and much more. In this session, we'll explore how you can use H5P to build meaningful interactions to your course content.
TLS-126: Creating Engaging Lessons with H5P's Interactive Book Tools
Join us in a comprehensive two-week course where you'll explore H5P's interactive book tool, designed to enhance your lesson creation process. Discover how to craft interactive lessons that engage your learners as they process the course content. Throughout the course, you'll have the opportunity to create a well-structured lesson plan outline for a 45- to 60-minute interactive lesson and then build an H5P Interactive Book Lesson based on that plan.
TLS-130: Creating Quality Rubrics
This online course will introduce rubrics and their importance, their purpose, different types and how they can be constructed and used. Rubrics have been utilized to evaluate and provide feedback. They are a scoring scale used for evaluation in different contexts, based on a range of criteria rather than a single numerical score. The course will discuss different types of rubrics, the pros and cons of using rubrics and introduce the application of rubrics in Blackboard.
TLS-135: Improving Student Retention Using Blackboard
This course provides an overview of how to access and implement the performance Dashboard, Retention Center and other course evaluation tools to monitor and track student progress. Participants will learn how to access the course evaluation tools, observe student activity, identify at-risk students, evaluate student participation in discussion forums, modify and customize Retention Center rules and several other tool features to support instructor presence and student success.
TLS-140: Journaling in BB Ultra: A Practical Guide
This course provides a theory-based approach to promoting collaboration and communication within the online environment. Through lecture, hands-on application and the surveying of select resources, participants will learn how to effectively implement, create and manage a journal within an online course. Participants will gain knowledge of how to use the tools to encourage student expression and creativity, foster student engagement and collaboration and enhance student interaction.
TLS-307: Regular and Substantive Interactions in Online Learning
The Department of Education requires online programs and courses to include "regular and substantive interaction" between students and faculty. Deciding how to engage with your students to meet this requirement should be a part of your course design not because this is a requirement of a regulation, but because it supports student success by implementing proven teaching and learning best practices. In this professional development, we will define regular and substantive interaction and offer steps that you can take in your online course design to fulfill this requirement with engaging material and support student learning and success in the process.
TLS-308: Transparent Assignment Design
This one-hour webinar focuses on how instructors can increase equity in their courses by designing problem-centered, meaningful assignments with clear instructions, purpose statements and success criteria. Using a three-part, research-based approach, participants will learn how to make current assignments more transparent in three easy steps with several examples across disciplines.
TLS-310: Authentic Assessments in Course Design
Developing a student-centered classroom is an important part of the student experience and directly relates to online class retention. One method to build on this is to create authentic assessments in your course design. Authentic assessments allow students to apply their knowledge to real-life scenarios and problems. In this webinar, we will define authentic assessments and provide guidance on how to create more authentic assessments in your online course development.
TLS-311: The Importance of Instructor Presence in Online Course Design
For decades, research on online education has shown that human connections and interaction play an essential role in the learning process, and new data generated by the recent boom of online education has only reinforced this conclusion. In this one-hour webinar, we will discuss what a strong instructional presence looks like in our online or Hyflex courses and consider various strategies and best practices you can implement to strengthen it.
TLS-312: Aligning Course Outcomes with Assessments
This one-hour webinar focuses on common course alignment issues and how to fix them. Applying the frameworks of Backward Design and Bloom's Taxonomy, this webinar leads participants through the course-design process from course outcomes to assessments to weekly objectives to daily instruction, providing tips for evaluating alignment at each stage in the design process and suggestions for improving alignment among the stages.
TLS-314: Engaging Adult Learners and Non-Traditional Students
In this webinar, we will discuss the unique challenges faced by the adult learners at Wake Tech. As part of this, we will discuss teaching methods to accommodate work schedules and family responsibilities. We will also explore teaching strategies that help adult learners share and create based on their life experiences.
TLS-315: Effective Time Management for Instructors
This one-hour webinar provides practical and effective strategies for instructors to optimize their time-management skills and enhance their productivity. These strategies will equip faculty with essential tools to design a healthy work-life balance that works best for them and ensure high-quality instruction in their courses. Instructors will leave with a personalized action plan to help them navigate the demands of their academic roles more effectively.
TLS-316: Engaging Generation Z
Generation Z, born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, is unlike any generation that has come before them. Raised in the age of technology and social media, they bring a unique set of values, preferences and behaviors to a classroom. In this webinar, we will dive deep into the world of Gen Z and discuss proven strategies to inspire and collaborate with this group of students.
TLS-317: Socratic Questioning and Critical Thinking
This one-hour webinar is designed to empower college instructors with the skills and techniques needed to infuse critical thinking in their students through Socratic questioning. Critical thinking is an essential skill for today's learners, and Socratic questioning provides a powerful framework for guiding students to think deeply and critically about complex topics. In this webinar, instructors will explore the principles of Socratic questioning and its practical application in instruction. Instructors will leave with a clear understanding of how to incorporate this valuable method into their pedagogy, helping their students become more analytical, reflective and effective thinkers in a variety of academic contexts.
TLS-318: Feedback Literacy and Feed-Forward Design
In this webinar, participants will learn strategies to support student reflection on and application of feedback, including the development of feedback response tasks and multi-stage, iterative design techniques that encourage students to process and use feedback as they progress through the course.
TLS-320: Kinesthetic Learning in an Online Environment
We often consider how visual and auditory learning are crucial learning elements in the online environment, but new perspectives on kinesthetic learning are quickly becoming a part of the conversation as well. This one-hour webinar will explore how our senses of touch and motion lend themselves to active learning and our overall retention of information.
TLS-322: Digital Storytelling for Social Presence with Sway
In this course, participants will explore how digital storytelling techniques can be applied to content and assessment design to increase social presence and engagement in online courses. Focusing on Microsoft Sway, a beginner-friendly, multimedia storyline and presentation application available to all Wake Tech instructors and students, this course prepares educators who have never before used digital storytelling to quickly apply this strategy in their current course or context.
TLS-326: H5P and Game-based Learning.
This five-day, self-paced training introduces faculty to the principles of game-based learning and how to create interactive, educational games using H5P. Participants will explore game-based strategies that enhance student engagement, motivation, and deep learning. By the end of the course, faculty will be empowered to design and embed their own H5P game-based activity within Blackboard Ultra.
TLS-333 Fast Fixes for Engagement in Your Online Course
This webinar will explore 5-7 practical, high-impact strategies to increase student engagement and implement more dynamic, interactive content in your online course. We’ll explore easy tweaks to discussion formats, feedback techniques, and content delivery methods that foster deeper engagement, increase participation, and keep your students motivated. Participants will leave with concrete ideas and examples to implement immediately to enhance the student experience.
TLS-334 Creating Effective Microlearning for Students 
This in-person workshop emphasizes the power of microlearning to improve student engagement, comprehension, and retention in online courses. It explores best practices for designing and structuring bite-sized learning experiences in Blackboard Ultra, including the use of AI Design Assistant tools, diverse content formats, and interactivity.
TLS-412: Keeping the Rigor with Student-Centered Learning
Supporting our students while maintaining high expectations in the classroom can be challenging. In this webinar, we discuss the key principles of academic rigor and how to apply this to students with diverse needs. Strategies are given to help create a classroom culture that values rigor but also student agency. We want our students to be challenged intellectually while fostering an inclusive and supportive environment!
TLS-414: Empowering English Language Learners in an Online Environment
In this webinar, instructors learn effective strategies to enhance English language learners' (ELL) engagement and success in online learning environments. We discuss practical techniques for creating an inclusive and supportive space that fosters ELL participation and learning.
TLS-415: Enhancing Course Rigor: Applying DOE Guidelines for Contact Hours
The U.S. Department of Education has established guidelines for contact hours and preparation hours in college classes. In this webinar, participants learn what these guidelines entail and how to apply them effectively online. They also explore strategies and tips, including how AI can support you, to enhance students' experience, ensuring they engage in a more rigorous and dynamic learning environment.

Technology options

Course
Description
H5P-101: Getting Started With H5P
H5P empowers everyone to create rich and interactive web experiences more efficiently. Integrated into Blackboard, this unique tool is web- and mobile-friendly and aims to make it easy for everyone to create and share content for your students. Create content such as interactive videos, interactive presentations, quizzes, timelines and much more.
TEC-100: Special Topics (TBA)
Special topics as relevant to changes in our educational technology tools.
TEC-120: SoftChalk
In this online training, participants will create a SoftChalk lesson for use in online courses. Participants will learn how to create an accessible, web-based interactive lesson with navigation links, pop-up annotations, web links, activities, quiz questions and an embedded captioned video.
TEC-130: Snagit
This session, offered in person and online, introduces participants to TechSmith's Snagit software. Snagit is used to create, edit and enhance screen-capture images. During this course, participants will use Snagit to capture images and use the Snagit Editor to enhance images to help viewers understand the purpose of the image. Best practices for creating instructional graphics and using graphics in instruction will also be presented.
TEC-140: Camtasia
This online course introduces Camtasia, screen-recording and video-editing software used to create video tutorials. Participants will create an accessible screencast video and share it with students on Blackboard. Participants should successfully complete the course to gain access to a full version of Camtasia software.
TEC-200: Introduction to Respondus 4.0 Exam Authoring Tool
This session will introduce the Respondus 4.0 exam authoring tool, briefly discuss how to create and manage exams and demonstrate how to import test questions and retrieve a test from Blackboard.
YUJA-101: Introductory YuJa Training for Faculty
This one-hour webinar will introduce faculty to the YuJa platform. YuJa is a video platform that integrates with Blackboard. With this platform, faculty can create videos for their course lectures, create video quizzes for assessment and create assignments for students to share video responses. In the introductory training, faculty will create their YuJa account and learn the basics of managing and distributing their YuJa media.
YUJA-102: Advanced YuJa Training for Faculty
This one-hour webinar will provide training on some of the more advanced features of the YuJa platform. In this webinar, faculty will learn about the advanced features of the YuJa video editor and media player. Faculty will learn how to access the analytics for each video, create video quizzes, manage the YuJa grade book and manage their YuJa account information.
YUJA-105: Creating Impactful Content with YuJa
This professional development course aims to provide participants with the skills and insights needed to create videos that are specific to their students' needs and that also fully engage students in active learning. Rather than having students passively viewing videos in a course, YuJa offers a variety of options to turn those viewings into opportunities for active learning and collaboration. This course will introduce those features, guide faculty through using them in a meaningful way and provide the space to try out creating videos where faculty can benefit from technological and pedagogical support and feedback.
YUJA-106: Engaging Instructional Videos
Join this webinar to learn about best practices for choosing, creating and using instructional videos to help students meet learning goals. If you have taken or are planning to take the YUJA-106 course, the webinar will be a great introduction or review of the first module. The information covered applies generally and can be applied with any video platform you use. However, we will give examples of how YuJa integrates research on best practices into its features.

Visual design literacy

Course
Description
VIS-020: Getting Started with Adobe Creative Cloud
This one-hour webinar session introduces tools to create and enhance visual elements in instructional materials for "laser-focused" and effective learning. Faculty learn how to access Adobe Creative Cloud to use the Acrobat Pro PDF editor, the Adobe Stock free image library, the Adobe Firefly AI image generator and the Adobe Express content designer for stronger visual impact in their course materials. (Formerly VIS-161 and TLS-204.)
VIS-110: How Visual Design and Literacy Impact Learning
This is the required first course for the Visual Learning, Literacy and Design certification program offered by the Academic Technology and Support Services Department. By the end of this four-hour course, you will be able to explain why visual design is important for learning and instruction, identify problems with the visual design of an instructional resource and propose solutions based on learning science, instructional design best practices, visual literacy standards and the principles of visual design.
VIS-120: Developing Effective Visual Learning Experiences
This is the second required course in the Visual Learning, Literacy and Design micro-credential course sequence. In the introductory course, you learned about the visual aspects of learning and began evaluating course materials based on principles of instructional and visual design. In this course, you will learn a research-based method for developing effective instructional visuals and practice applying visual design principles to support learning goals.
Prerequisite: VIS-110.
VIS-131: Enhancing the Value of Instructional Visuals using Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel
Explore techniques to create more effective and compelling visuals utilizing the Microsoft Office 365 Suite. Learn to design visually captivating elements for documents, spreadsheets and presentations that aid and enhance instructional delivery.
VIS-132 Enhancing the Learning Value of Visuals using Adobe Express
This professional development course will explore using Adobe Express, Acrobat, Firefly and other visual design tools. Gain knowledge to design content for more effective, compelling learning experiences and enhance course elements for stronger visual impact.
VIS-141: Student Literacy and Design
This is an open elective course in the Visual Learning, Literacy and Design microcredential program. By the end of this two-hour course, you will be able to support and develop student visual literacy skills so they can effectively find, interpret, evaluate, use and create visual media.
VIS-150: Capstone: Best Practices in Visual Learning, Literacy and Design
Now that you have taken all the prerequisite courses in the Visual Learning, Literacy and Design pathway, you will demonstrate how have you have enhanced the effectiveness and engagement of instructional materials by improving their visual design. In this two-hour capstone course, you will create and present a video that showcases design improvements while reflecting on the process and the impact of your changes. This course emphasizes both practical design skills and critical self-reflection.
NOTE: Before you register for this course, check the VIS pathway description to see if you have met all the prerequisites: VIS-110, VIS-120 and eight hours of elective credits, including VIS-131 or VIS-132.